Sasha Gordon’s new exhibition, Haze, currently on view at David Zwirner, is a collection of oil paintings with interrelated narratives that unravel through each painting. The themes draw from myths, Asian cinema, and Gordon’s psychological experiences and struggles with her Asian identity. Ambiguity is a key theme, and the works are purposely not shown in narrative order.
It Was Still Far Away, inspired by Bong Joon Ho’s The Host, depicts an explosion that lights up the background. Oblivious of her surroundings, the figure clips her toenails with her headphones on. This figure reappears with different roles, either becoming the victim or doing the action. In some, she eats her nail clippings, is forced underwater, and is fed by another seemingly identical figure.
Immense detail is shown in Flame Like Blush, where the figure is bathed in a blazing orange, casting a vivid glow on the face. The reflection of clouds in her eyes hints at the continued narrative through her work, resembling the explosion from It Was Still Far Away and provides a reason for the radiant illumination and sweat. The size of both works is massive, each being over 60 inches tall.
Overall, Gordon’s works are realistic yet uncanny. The continued narrative of the figure put in bizarre scenes, combined with her own life, evokes a psychological and dream-like experience where continuing themes are threaded throughout the works.
You've done a great job of describing and analyzing the pieces in the exhibition, capturing the emotional tone of the pieces and how the pieces fit together to create an interrelating narrative of experience. Maybe you could dive a bit deeper into why its significant that Gordon has chosen to represent herself in these paintings. I think I remember hearing that Gordon was reluctant at first to admit the woman in the paintings was after her likeness, so it would be helpful to know a little more about why. It could also help your analysis to have a little more of an analytical conclusion. Instead of reflecting on the shows cohesion which has been expressed, you could reflect on the pieces emotional or cultural significance. Maybe tying in a little more about the themes drawn from myths, Asian cinema, and the artists memories.
ReplyDeleteOverall a very thoughtful and insightful review that does a great job of conveying the overall experience of the exhibition!